Filling-end finder.



D. OSGOOD & A. E. RHOADES.

FILLING END FINDER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4. I9I6.

1,256,251. Patented Feb. 12,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- Fig.1.

Inven'fons. Dunn Osgood AIongo ERHOudes b mwkm Ai'tys.

I D. OSGOOD & A. E. RHOADES.

' FILLING EIII) FINDER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4. I916- 1,256, 251 Patented Feb.1'2,1918.

a sums-swear 2.

Fig.2.

\nven tors.

Dunu Qsgood Alonzo ERhoudes [)YMWKW YS.

D. OSGOOD & A. E. RHOADES.

FILLING END FINDER.

APPLICATION HLED NOV- 4. I916.

Patented Fb.12,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEEI' 3.

Fig

\nvenTors. Dana ()sgood Alongb ERhoudes.

UNITE SATS PATENT OFFICE.

DANA OSGOOD AND ALONZO E. RHOADES, OF I-IOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS,

BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO DRAPER CORPORATION, OF I-IOPEDALE, MASSACHU- SETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FILLING-END FINDER.

Application filed November 4, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, DANA Osooon and Anonzo E. Rnonons, citizens of the United States, and residents of Hopedale, county of Vv'orcester, State of Massaehuset ts, have invented an Improvement in F iliing-End Finders. of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specificat on, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanism for finding and holding the free end of the yarn or filling which is wound upon bobbins, cops or other filling carriers used in the manufacture of textiles but particularly in those used in automatic filling replenishing looms.

At the conclusion of the spinning operation incidental to the preparation of cops or filling carriers for use in automatic filling replenishing looms, one or more loose spirals preferably are wound downwardly toward the base of the filling carrier and the free end of the filling left clinging to the car-' rier.

In the operation of the usual automatic the weaver will pull off an unnecessary amount of filling, thus causing wastage of I material.

While the time consumed and the wastage for a single bobbin may not appear to amount to much the total waste in time and material in mills operating several thousand looms amounts to a very considerable loss.

The object of the present invention is to provide an automatically operating means which will feel upon the filling carrier and find the free end of the filling, clamp and hold the same until the filling carrier has been transferred to the running shuttle and at least one pick of filling from said filling carrier laid in the shed.

While the invention disclosed herein is particularly described in respectto itsap- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

Serial No. 129,411.

weaver with the end thus found and secured in order to permit the filling carrier more readily to be introduced into a hand threading shuttle without the waste of time usually consumed in finding the end.

A further feature of the invention comprises broadlythe combination of an end finding and holding device of the character above specified with the battery of an auto matic filling replenishing loom and also in so combining the mechanism for actuating the end finder and holder with the trans ferring mechanism of the loom that the end of the filling upon one filling carrier will be grasped automatically-as another filling carrier is being transferred to the'shuttle;

Another feature of the invention consists in providing a reciprocating and rotatable 1 finding mechanism adap ed to feel upon the surface of a stationary filling carrler and in moving over the same to pick up and gripthe free end of the filling, pull olf a prede-' termined amount of the same and then release the filllng end preparatory to the next finding movement.

A further feature of the invention con-- sists in providing automatic means for transferring the end thus released to an anchoring device.

Other featuresof the invention and the various novel mechanisms used for accomplishing the purpose above described will more fullyappear from the following description and the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the drawings;

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the battery end of a loom showing the end of the loom frame with the battery supported thereupon and a preferred embodiment of the end finder and holder located in operative relation thereto,

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same,

Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of a portion ofv the battery showing the means for clamping the base of the bobbins or other filling carriers,

Fig. 41 is a detail end view of the finder, showing in section the guide rods upon which the same is reciprocated.

Fig, 5 is a detail plan View of the end finder and holder slidably mounted upon said guide rods, 7

Fig. 6 is an enlarged end elevation of the finder and holder with the end plate or bearing removed to illustrate the cams which serve to actuate the finder clamp, the clamp being in closed position,

*i 7 s a longitudinal sectional view on line 77 Fig. 6, and,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged end elevation of the finder and holder showing the finder clamps in open position.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated herein as applied to the battery end of a loom of the well known Northrop type, only a sulficient amount of the loom mechanism being shown to illustrate the application of the present invention thereto.

The loom shown in the drawings comprises the usual end frame 1, breast beam 2, and lay 8 carried upon swords 4 and actuated in the usual manner, it being understood that the shed forming mechanism, the feeler mechanism and other parts of the loom may be of any of the well known types.

Mounted upon the breast beam 2 is the hopper stand 5 which carries a shaft 6 upon which the hopper disk 7 is rotatably mounted. The periphery of the hopper disk is provided with a series of radially disposed clamps preferably such as are shown in Fig. 3 and which comprise a grooved stationary member 8 and arelatively movable clamping member 9 normally forced toward the stationary member 8 by helical. springs 10 mounted upon bolts 11 passing through suitable apertures in a supporting plate or flange 12 wh ch is rigidly secured to the circular plate 7 The heads 13 of the bolts or pins 11 limit the inward movement of the clamping member 9. At a distance slightly greater than the length of the bobb n; a d sk 14% is secured to the shaft, said disk being p10- vided with a flange or ledge 15 adapted to support. the tips of the bobbins, the bases of which are gripped by the clamping members 8, 9 of the rotary disk. The lower portion of the disk or plate 14 is cut away as illustrated in Fig. 2 to permit the necessary movement of the end findingand gripping de ice longitudinally of the filling carriers.

The end finding and gripping mechanism comprises a rotatable member preferably a hollow drum having one or more gripping finders adapted to be thrust yieldably against the surface of the filling on the filling carrier, said rotatable member being so actu ated that it is caused to pass longitudinally over the filling carrier, and then to be rotated in a direction opposite to the final spirals upon the filling carrier so that the finder will pick up and unwind the ailing end and upon movement of the rotatable member in the opposite direction will pull off a predetermined amount of filling.

lVhile the filling end thus gripped by the finder may be held during the transfer of the filling carrier to the shuttle it is expedient to remove said end from the finder in order that the latter may be prepared for the next finding movement. Means have therefore been provided which will transfer the filling end from the finder to an anchoring device, such as a piece of card clothing, which will retain the filling end as long as necessary.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated herein the shaft 6 is extended a considerable distance beyond the end of the hopper and supports at its end a bracket or arm 16 having a lateral or upward extension 17 (see Fig. 2), said bracket serving to support the outer endsof guide rods 18, 19 which are mounted at their opposite or inner ends in a'bracket 20 secured to the loom frame.

In order reciprocably to support the finder carrying drum a cross head 21 is slidably mounted upon the guide rods 18, 19, said cross head being provided with a laterally extending pin or stud 103 adapted to be engaged by an actuating lever which will hereinafter be described.

The cross head 21 has an extension which is provided with a cylindrical boss 22 upon which is mounted a hollow drum 23 having a cylindrical enlarged end portion 2% which is radially apertured or slotted to receive the end finding and gripping members. For convenience in construction four radial slots desirably are employed. By thus providing several finding and gripping members the picking up the end of the yarn is insured.

The drum 23 is rotatable upon the boss 22 and isadap'ted to be maintained normal position by a helical spring 25 surrounding said drum and anchored at one end in the enlarged portion or head 24 of the drum and at its other end in the cross head 21. The slotted portions of the enlarged head '24 of the drum form guideways to receive hollow plungers 26 which have concave faces 27 adapted to rest upon the filling on the carrier as the drum is passed over the same. The concave faceQ'Z of each plunger 26 is provided with a central. eircumferentially extending groove 28 adapted to receive a finding and gripping member 29 which is provided with a stem 30 extending axially through the plunger 26. i'

vEach finding and gripping member and plunger is controlled by a cam actuated pin 31 which passes through the stem 30 and slots 32, 33 in the plunger 26, the slots 32, 33 being of sufiicient size to permit relative movement between the stem 30 of the finding and gripping member 29 and the plunger 26. The outer ends of the pins 31 are seated in cam slots 34 having narrow and wide portions formed in a disk 35 which is rotatable relatively to the drum 23.

The extremities of the stems 30 of the finding and gripping members pass radially through a sheath 36 which incloses the mech anism of the drum heretofore described. Helical springs 37 resting at their outer ends against the inner periphery of the sheath 36 and at their inner ends upon pins 31 serve normally to tend to force the finding and gripping members 29 inwardly, but when the mechanism is in the normal position illustrated in Fig. 1 the finding and gripping members are retracted into the slots 28 in the plunger by reason of the fact that the ends of the pins 31 are caused by the rotation of the drum 23 under the influence of the spring 25 to enter the narrow portions 38 of the cam slots 34.

The disk 35, the radial plungers and finding and gripping members, and the inclosing sheath 36 are retained in assembled position by a centrally apertured cap plate 39 which closes the end of the drum and is provided with an offset extension 40 by which it is connected to th cross head 21. The cap plate 39 is provided with a slot 41 which is concentrate with the axis of the drum and the cam disk 35 is provided with a pin 42 extending through said slot and desirably having an upward extension 43 for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

The slot 41 in the cap plate 39 is of such length as properly to limit the rotative move mentof the cam disk 35 in each direction, thus causing a relative movement between the cam disk 35 and the drum 23 which will control the movement of the filling end finding and gripping members. Thus, when the drum is reciprocated longitudinally over the filling carrier, both it and the cam disk 35 will be rotated in unison until the pin which projects from the cam disk engages the end of the slot 41 in the cap plate 39. Further rotation of the drum carries the pin 31 into the wider portion of the cam slot 34, thus permitting the plungers to be forced inwardly by their springs until their concaved faces 27 rest upon the filling.

Inasmuch as the springs 37 press againstthe pins 31 which are seated in slots in the plungers 26 a further movement will be given to the finding and gripping members which will force its nose more tightly against the filling and between adjacent spirals thereof. iVhen, therefore the drum is rotated in the opposite direction one of the finding and gripping members 29 will pass beneath the free end of the filling and pick the same up.

As the drum completes its rotation in this reverse direction the pin 42 on the cam disk engages the other end of the slot 41 and forces the pins 31 into the narrower parts 38 of the cam slots 34, thus first retracting the finding and gripping member 29 into the slot 28, clamping the filling end, and thereafter withdrawing the plungers 26 into their sockets against the. action of the springs 37. lVhcn the drum is rcciprocatcd to its normal position, illustrated in full lines in Fig. 1, the end of the filling will be pulled ofl in the manner above described.

Any suitable mechanism may be provided for causing the proper longitudinal reciprocation and rotation of the drum. A convenient means which is illustrated herein comprises a pair of pins 44, 45 which are rigidly seated in the enlarged portion 24 of the drum and extend to a considerable distance beyond its periphery. These pins 44, 45 are adapted to engage respectively, during the longitudinal reciprocation of the drum, a pair of cams 46, 47 which are pivotally mounted respectively upon studs 48, 49 projccting laterally from a bracket or stand 50 which is bolted or otherwise secured to the bracket 20 which supports the ends of the guide rods 18, 19 so that as the drum is reciprocated longitudinally it is rotated, thus causing rotation of the cam disk 35 until the same is arrested by engagement of its pin 42 with the end of the slot 4-1.. Further rotation of the drum by reason of the engagement of the cams 46, 47 with the pins 44, 45 causes rotation between the drum 23 and the cam disk 35 so that the plungcrs are extended inwardly until. their concaved feeling faces engage the yarn mass upon the yarn carrier, a further movement of the finding and gripping member is then caused by the spring 37 which causes the nose or end 29 to pass beneath the free end of the yarn or filling. At the end of the longitudinal movement of the drum over the filling carrier the pins 44, 45 ride over the ends of the cams 4647 whereupon the spring 25 immediately rotates the drum in the reverse direction, first causing the pins 31 to ride up into the narrow portions 38 of the cam and thereafter restoring the drum to its normal position. The drum is then reciprocated in the reverse direction from the dotted line position illustrated in. Fig. 1 to its full line position therein shown, carrying with it the free end of the filling which has been picked up in the manner aforesaid. With the filling thus gripped the bobbin or other filling carrier may be transferred to the shuttle and the filling properly laid in the shed.

In such case however, means are required to remove the free end of the filling from the finding and gripping member before the latter is in condition to feel for the free end of the filling upon another carrier. Means have therefore been provided to cause the release of the free end of the filling as the drum is approaching its normal position, illustrated in full lines in Fig. l.

The end of the filling thread is then carried to a separate holding device. This is accomplished by placing a cam 51 in the path of the pin ie so as to cause a partial rotation of the drum as the latter approaches normal position shown in Fig. 1, and at the same time providing a retaining means, such as an arm 52 to engage the extension d3 of the pin 42 on the cam disk 35. By this means the movement of the drum relatively to the cam disk permits the pins 31 to pass into the wider portions of the cam slots 34;

so that the springs 87 force the finding and gripping members inwardly and release hem from gripping engagement with the yarn. A wiper preferably operated by the action of the controlling mechanism is passed across the path of the drum, which carries the filling end finding and gripping members just before the drum starts upon its excursion across the filling carrier to pick up the loose end thereof so that the filling end which has been engaged by the filling end finding and gripping member on its preceding excursion is whipped from the wiper and carried into a piece of card clothing supported in. a convenient position to hold it during the transferring operation and the initial flights of the shuttle carrying the new filling carrier through the loom. The wiper preferably comprises a serrated arm 53 which is pivoted upon'a stud 5e carried by a bracket 55 rigidly secured to the shaft 6. The stud 54 also has rigidly secured to it an arm 56 having a flattened extension 57 carrying a section of card clothing 58 so that when the wiper '53 passes across the path of the drum it will carry the filling end into the card clothing, causing said end to become enmeshed with the teeth of the card clothing and securely held during the transferring of the fillin g carrier.

Any suitable mechanism coordinated with the movement of the transferring mechanism may be provided for reciprocating the filling finding and gripping mechanism. As illustrated herein the cross head supporting the drum which carries the finding and gripping mechanism is reciprocated by an arm which is actuated by mechanism controlled frdm the starting rod of the loom, thestarting rod turn being under the control of the usual weft fork mechanism or feeler mechanism which initiates the action of the transferring mechanism in usual types of automatic looms; also the wiper which causes the free end of the filling to be anchors-din the card clothing is actuated in mg and gripping mechanism by the same means as that which controls the longitudi nal reciprocation of the drum.

In the preferred mechanism which is illustrated herein the usual starting rod 60 is provided at its end with an arm 61 having a slot 62 at its end which engages a pin 63 in the end of a sliding member 64 which has guiding slots 65, 66 adapted to receive respectively pins 67, 68 extending from the legs of the end frame 1. her 64 is provided with cams 69, 70 adapted respectively to actuate the wiper above described and to initiate the action of the mechanism for reciprocating the cross head 21 which carries the finder drum..

The cam 70 is positioned to engage the end 71 of a lever 72 which is pivotally mounted upon a stud 73 carried by a bracket 74 secured to the end frame. The end of the lever 72 is provided with a slot 7 5 which receives a pin 7 6 carried by a latch 7 7 which is pivoted at one end upon a pin 78 carried on a shipper arm 7 9 which is pivofally suspended from a stud 80 carried by a bracket 81 projecting from the main frame. The shipper armat its opposite end or lower end is provided with a yoke 82 having pins 83 engaging a groove Si in a clutch member 85 which is slidablv keyed upon a shaft in the lower portion of the lcom frame preferably the cam shaft 86, and a spring 87 encircling the cam shaft and bearirg at one end against the clutch member 85 and at its opposite end against a collar 88 rigidly secured to the cam shaft tends normally to force the clutch engaging face 89 against a clutch member 90 preferably formed upon the hub of a spiral ear 91 which is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 86 and held from longitudinal movement thereupon by a collar 92. A spiral gear 91 meshes with a companion gear 93 which is mounted upon a stud 94; carried by a bracket 95 projecting from the end frame.

The gear 93 has an eccentricallv d sposed crank stud or crank pin 96 which is connected by a link 97 to a pin or stud 98 upon The sliding memthe lever 99 which reciprocates the endfind- 7 ing and gripping mechanism longitudinally of the yarn receiver or filling carrier. The lever 99 is pivotally mounted at its lower end upon the stud 1 00 carried by a bracket 101 which may be secured to the base of the loom or to the floor.

At its upper end the lever 99 is provided with a-slot 102 which receives a stud 103 projecting laterally from the sliding cross head 21. The lever 99 is provided with a preferably squared stud lOt located at about the same level as the pivot 78 of the latch 77 and the end of the latch 77 has a hooked end 105 adapted normally to engage said stud so that when the lever 99 is in normal position as illustrated in Fig. 1, the latch 77Vby its engagement with the stud 104 will retain the clutch face 89 and clutch member 90-out of engagement.

In the operation of the machine the oscillation of the starting rod 60, upon call for transfer, reciprocates the sliding member (a causing the cam to depress the end 71 of the lever 72, thus lifting the latch 77 upwardly so that its end 105 is disengaged from the stud 101. This permits the spring 87 to force the clutch member 85 into engagement with the clutch member 90 upon the spiral gear 91, thus causing rotation of the latter and through it rotation of the companion gear 93. As the gear 93 rotates, its crank pin 96 reciprocates the link 97 and oscillates the lever 99, thus causing a reciprocation of the end finding and gripping means lengthwise of the filling carrier so that the drum is carried over the cylindrical portion of the winding upon the filling carrier, nearly to the base of said carrier, and is then returned to normal position.

As soon as the transferring mechanism has been positioned to effect transfer the starting rod is restored to normal position in the usual manner so that the sliding rod is returned to its normal position shown in Fig. 2. This releases the end 71 of the lever 72 and permits the latch 77 to drop into the path of the stud 10st. When the lever 99 approaches its normal position, shown in Fig. 1, the end 105 of the latch catches upon the stud 101 and upon the final movement of the lever actuates the shipper through the latch 77 to withdraw the clutch member 85 from engagementwith the clutch member 90 thereby arresting the movement of said lever so that the end finding and gripping member remains in normal position until the next call for transfer.

In order to remove the filling end from the finding and gripping member so that the end finding and gripping means will be prepared for the next finding operation, means are provided for withdrawing the filling end from the end finding and gripping member and transferring it to the anchoring device in the manner aforesaid by means of a wiper 53 actuated to cross the path of the filling carrier and thrust the end of the filling into a piece of card clothing 58 carried by a stationary arm 56. Any suitable mechanism operated in properly timed relation to the reciprocation of the end finding and gripping means may be utilized to actuate the wiper A convenient construction which is illustrated herein comprises a lever 106 pivotally mounted upon a bracket 107 projecting from the end frame, the end 108 of said lever extending into the path of the cam 69. The opposite end of the lever 106 is connected by a link 109 to an arm 110 projecting from or connected to the hub 111 of the wiper 53.

It will be obvious that the longitudinal movement of the sliding member 64: when actuated by the oscillation of the controller rod 60, will actuate the lever 100 and through the link 109 the wiper 53 so that the latter will quickly pass across the path of reciprocation of the end finding and gripping member and will carry the filling end into the card clothing 58 or such other anchoring device as may be provided.

It will be understood that the particular mechanisms disclosed herein are illustrative of one of the preferred forms in which my invention may be embodied but are not restrictive and that various other means may be employed for accomplishing the purposes herein set forth within the meaning and scope of the following claims.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is;

1. In a machine for finding and pulling off the free end of a mass of yarn wound upon a yarn carrier, a rotary hopper provided with a circular series of relatively yieldable jaws for gripping the bases of yarn carriers and holding them against rotation, a member having an end finding and gripping instrumentality, means for reciprocating said member longitudinally across the surface of the yarn mass, and means for rotating said member relatively to said yarn carrier to cause the end finding member to pick up the free end of the yarn.

2. In combination with an automatic filling replenishing loom having a hopper adapted to receive a series of filling carriers and to place the same successively in trans ferring position, a filling end finder, means for passing the same longitudinally over the surface of the filling upon the filling carrier, means for causing relative rotative movementbetween said end finder and said filling carrier to insure picking up of the filling end and means for causing said finder to grip the filling end and unwind the same from the filling carrier.

3. In combination with an automatic filling replenishing loom having a hopper adapted to receive a series of filling carriers and to place the same successively in transferring position, means automatically operable to find and grip the end of the filling on a filling carrier about to be transferred comprising a member having a plurality of end finders, means for reciprocating said member to cause said finders to pass longitudinally over the surface of the fi=ling upon the filling carrier, means for rotating said member to cause a finder to pick up the free end of the filling and means for causing said finder to grip said filling.

In combination with an automatic filling replenishing loom having a hopper adapted to receive a series of filling carriers and to place the same successively in transferring position, means automatically operable to find and grip the end of the filling on a filling carrier awaiting transfer comprising, a rotatable drum having a plurality of radially disposed yieldahlc end finders, means for reciprocating said drum longitudinally over said filling carrier, means for rotating said drum during its longitudinal reciprocation in one direction over said filling carrier, means for causing the drum to rotate in the opposite direction at the end of such movement to cause an end finder to pick up the free end of said filling whereby upon reciprocation of said drum in the 0pposite direction said end will be unwound from the filling carrier.

5. In combination with an automatic filling replenishing loom having a hopper adapted to receive aseries of filling carriers and to place the same successively in transferring position, means automatically operable to find and grip the end ofthe filling on a filling carrier about to be-transferred comprising a rotatable spring actuated drum having a plurality of radially disposed yieldable end finders, means for reciprocating said drum longitudinally over said fillagainst the action of said sprin during its longitudinal reciprocation in one direction, means for releasing said drum at the end of said longitudinal movement whereby the spring will rotate said drum in the opposite direction to cause an end finder to engage and grip the free end of the filling and upon reciprocation of said'drum in the opposite direction to unwind the same from the filling carrier,

6. In combination with an automatic filling replenishing loom having a hopper adapted to receive a series of filling carriers and to place the same successively in transferring position, means automatically operable to find and grip the end of the filling on a filling carrier about to be transferred comprising a rotatable spring actuated drum having a plurality of radially disposed yieldable end fir ders, and a plurality of outwardly extending pins, ireans for reciprocating said drum longitudinally over said fillirg carrier, cams adapted to engage said pins and rotate said drum against the action of its spring during its longitudinal reciprocation in one direction and to release said pins at the end of said reciprocation whereby said spring will rotate the drum in the opposite direction to cause the finder to p ck up and grip the free end of the filling and upon movement in the opposite direction to unwind the same from the filling carrier.

ing carrier, means for rotating said drum 7 In combination with an automatic filling replenishing loom having a hopper adapted to receive a series of filling carriers and to place the same in transferring position, an end finder and means forpassing the same longitudinally over the filling carrier, means for causing said finder to pick up and grip the free end of the filling and unwind the same from the filling carrier, means for releasing said filling end from said finder and means for transferring said end to an anchoring means whereby said end will be held during and after the transfer of the filling carrier.

8. In combination with an automatic filling replenishing loom having a hopper adapted to receive a series of filling carriers, means for rotating said hopper intermit tently to place said carriers successively in transferring position, end finding means located in advance of transferring position, means automatically operable in synchronism with said transferring mechanism for reciprocating said end finding means longitudinally over the filling on a filling carrier, means for rotating said end finding means to cause the same to find and grip the free end of the filling on a filling carrier approachirg transferring position.

9. In combination with an automatic filling replenishirg loom having a rotary hopper adapted to re eive a series of filling carriers, means for rotating said hopper intermittently to place said carriers successively in transferrirg position, means located in advance of transferring position automatically operable in synchronism with said transferring mechanism to find, grip and unwind the free end of the filling on a fillirg carrier approaching transferring p0- sition, means for releas ng the filling end from said find ng and gripping means and means for holding the end thus released during and after transfer of said filling carrier.

10. in comb nation with an automatic filling replenishing loom having a hopper adapted to receive a series of filling carriers and to plac the same successively in transferrng position, transferring mechanism and controlling means for sz id transferring mechanism; means having a combined reciprocating and rotat ng movement automatically operable to find and grip free end of filling upon a filling carrier awaiting transfer and means operable by sa d transfer controllirg means for causing the actuation of said end finding and gripping means.

11. In conbiriation with an automatic fillirg replenishing loom having a hopper adapted to receive a ser es of filling carriers and to place the same successively in transferring position, transferring mechanism and controlling means for said transferring mechanism; means automatically operable to find, grip and unwind the free end of filling upon a filling carrier awaiting transfer, means operable by said transfer controlling means for causing the actuation of said end finding means, means for releasing the end of the filling from said finding and gripping means, an end holding device and means also operable by said controlling means for transferring the filling end from said finding and gripping means to said holding means.

12. In combination with an automatic filling replenishing loom having a hopper adapted to receive a series of filling carriers and to place the same in transferring position, a filling end finder, transferring mechanism and means for controlling said transferring mechanism, a filling end finder, means for reciprocating the same longitudinally across the surface of the filling upon a filling carrier about to be transferred comprising a lever operable from the cam shaft of the loom and means actuated .by said transfer controlling means for controlling the actuation of said lever.

13. In combination with an automatic filling replenishing loom having a hopper adapted to receive a series of filling carriers and to place the same successively in transferring position, transferring mechanism and means for controlling said transferring mechanism; filling end finding means, means for reciprocating the same longitudinally across the surface of the filling upon a filling carrier awaiting transfer, means for rotating said end finding means during said reciprocation, and means including clutch mechanism operable by said transfer controlling mechanism for controlling the reciprocation of the filling end finder.

14. In combination with an automatic filling replenishing loom having a hopper adapted to receive a series of filling carriers and to place the same successively in transferring position, transferring mechanism; filling end finding means, means operable from the cam shaft of the loom for reciprocating the same longitudinally across the surface of the filling upon the filling carrier awaiting transfer including a lever connected to said end finding means, a gear having a clutch member rotatably mounted upon said cam shaft, a cooperating clutch member slidably keyed upon said cam shaft, means intermediate of said gear and said lei'er for causing oscillatory movement of said lever from the rotative movement of 7 said gear and means for actuating said sliding clutch member.

15. In combination with an automatic filling replenishing loom having a hopper adapted to receive a series of filling carriers and to place the same successively in transferring position, transferring mechanism and means for controlling said transferring mechanism; filling end finding means, means operable from the cam shaft of the 100111 for reciprocating the same longitudinally across the surface of the filling upon a filling carrier awaiting transfer including a lever connected to said end finding means, a gear having a clutch member rotatably mounted upon said cam shaft, a cooperating clutch member slidably keyed upon said cam shaft, means intermediate of said gear and said lever for causing oscillatory movement of said lever from the rotative movement of said gear and means operable by the transfer controlling means for controlling the movement of said sliding clutch member.

16. In combination with an automatic filling replenishing loom having a hopper adapted to receive a series of filling carriers and to place the same successively in transferring position, transferring mechanism and means for controlling said. transferring mechanism; filling end finding means, means operable from the cam shaft of the loom for reciprocating the same longitudinally across the surface of the filling upon a filling carrier awaiting transfer including a lever connected to said end finding means, a gear having a clutch member mounted upon said cam shaft, moans intermediate of said gear and said lever for causing oscillatory movement of said lever from the rotative movement of said gear, a cooperating clutch member slidably keyed upon said cam shaft, resilient means tending normally to force said sliding clutch member into engagement With the clutch member of said gear, means for normally retaining said clutch members out of engagement and means operable by the transfer controlling means for releasing said clutch retaining means.

17. In combination With an automatic filling replenishing loom having a hopper adapted to receive a series of filling carriers and to place the same successively in transferring position, transferring mechanism and means for controlling said transferring mechanism; filling end finding means, means operable from the cam shaft of the loom for reciprocating the same longitudinally across the surface of the filling upon the filling carrier awaiting transfer including a lever connected to said end fimling means, a spiral gear having a clutch member rotatably mounted upon said cam shaft, a companion spiral gear having a crank pin and means connecting the same to said lever, a clutch member slidably keyed upon said cam shaft, resilient means normally tending to force said slidable clutch member into engagement with the clutch member of said. spiral gear, a shipper for said clutch, a latch connected to said shipper adapted to engage a stud on said lever and means operable by said transfer controlling means for releasing said latch from engagement with said Stud.

18. In combination with an automatic filling replenishing loom having a hopper adapted to receive a series of filling carriers and to place the same successively in transferring position, transferring mechanism and means for controlling said transferring mechanism; filling end finding means, means operable from the cam shaft of the loom for reciprocating the same longtudinally across the surface of the filling upon the filling carrier awaiting transfer including a lever connected to said end finding means, a spiral gear having a clutch member rotatably mounted upon said cam shaft, a'companion spiral gear having a crank pin and means connecting the same to said lever, a clutch member slidably keyed upon said cam shaft, resilient means normally tending to force said slidable clutch member into engagement with the clutch member of said spiral gear, a shipper for said clutch, a latch connected to said shipper adapted to engage a stud on said lever and means operable by said transfer controlling means for releasing said latch from engagement with said stud to permit engagement of the clutch members and thereby to move said lever in one direction, said latch operating means also positioning the latch in the path of said stud whereby upon movement of said lever in the opposite direction said clutch members will be released from en- 'gagement.

tively to said yarn carrler to cause said find-- ing member to pick up the free end of the yarn and means for causing said finding member to grip said end.

20. In a machine for finding and pulling off the free end of a mass of yarn wound upon a yarn carrier, means for gripping tl e base of the yarn carrier and holding the same against rotation, a rotatable member having a plurality of yieldable end finding and gripping instrumentalities, means for reciprocating said member longitudinally across the surface of the yarn mass, means for rotating said member with said gripping instrumentalities in contact with the yarn mass to cause a finding instrumentahty to engage the freeend of the yarn and means operable by said rotative movement to cause said finding instrumentality to grip said free end.

' into contact with the yarn 21. In a machine for finding and pulling off the free end of a mass of yarn wound upon a yarn carrier, means for gripp ng the base of the yarn carrier and holding the same against rotation, a reciprocating and rotatable drum having a radially disposed plunger provided with a concaved yarn engaging face mounted in a recess therein, an end finding member fitting said recess and having a stem telescopically mounted in said plunge-r, means for yieldably forcing said plunger and end finder mass and for producing relative movement between said plunger and said finder whereby the end of the finder will be projected beyond the end of said plunger and caused to pass beneath the free end of the yarn and means for retracting said finder to cause the same to grip the yarn.

22. In a machine for finding and pulling off the free end of a mass of yarn Wound upon a yarn carrier, means for gripping the base of the yarn carrier and holding the same against rotation, a reciprocating and rotatable drum having a radially disposed plunger provided with a concaved yarn engaging face mounted in a recess therein, an end finding member fitting said recess and having a stem telescopically mounted in said plunger, means for yieldably forcing said plunger and end finder into contact with the yarn mass and for producing rela tive movement between said plunger and said finder whereby the end of the finder will be projected beyond the end of said plunger and caused to pass beneath the free end of the yarn, a cam carried by said drum and rotatable relatively thereto and means operable by said cam first to retract said finder to cause the same to grip the free end of the yarn and thereafter to Withdraw the plunger into said recess.

23. In a machine for finding and pulling ofi the free end of a mass of yarn wound upon a filling carrier, means for gripping the base of the yarn carrier and, lidldingi the same against rotation, end finding means comprising a hollow member and means for reciprocating the same longitudinally over said yarn carrier, a spring actuated drum mounted upon said member and having a plurality of radially disposed recesses, plungers mounted in said recesses having concaved yarn engag ng faces provided with central grooves, end finders located in sa d grooves and having stems extending axially through said plungers, pins anchored in said stems and extending transversely through the same into slots in said plungers, a disk provided with cams engaging the ends of said pins, m ans for rotating said drum and said cam disk and means for controlling the relative movement of sa d cam disk and saiddrum to cause the finders to be extended beyond the ends of the plungers during the rotation of the drum in one direction and to force said finders toward said plungers during rotation in the opposite direction.

2i. In a machine for finding and pulling oil the free end of a mass of filling wound upon a filling carrier, means for gripping the base of the yarn carrier and holding the same against rotation, end finding means comprising a hollow member and means for reciprocating the same longitudinally over said yarn carrier. a spring actuated drum mounted upon said member and having a plurality of radially disposed recesses, a helical spring secured to said member and said drum, plungers mounted in said recess having concaved yarn engaging faces provided with central grooves, end finders located in said grooves and having stems extending axially through said plungers, pins anchored in said stems and extending transversely through the same and through slots in said plungers, resilient means engaging said pins and adapted to force said stems toward the center of said drum, a disk provided with cams engaging the ends of said pins, means for rotating said drum and said cam disk in one direction against the tension of said spring and means for limiting the movement of said cam disk to cause relative movement between the same and the drum whereby said plungers and said finders may be projected against the surface of the yarn as the drum is rotated by said means and means for limiting the movement of said cam disk in the opposite direction when the drum is rotated by the action of said sprin 25. In combination with an automatic filling replenishing loom having a rotary hopper provided with means to hold in circular series a plurality of filling carriers and to place the same successively in transferring position, means adapted to engage the filling upon a filling carrier prior to transfer and auton'iatically rotatable relatively thereto to find the end of the filling upon said carrier.

26. In combination with an automatic filling replenishing loom having a rotary hopper provided with means to hold in circular series a plurality of filling carriers and to place the same successively in transferring position, automatically operable means movable longitudinally of said filling carrier to engage the filling upon said carrier and retatable'relative thereto to find the end of the filling upon said carrier.

27. In combination with an automatic filling replenishing loom having a hopper adapted to receive a series of filling carriers and to place the same successively in transferring position, means automatically operable to find the end of the filling upon a till- 7 ing carrier awaiting transfer comprising a member hav ng an end finder, means for reciprocating said member to cause said finder to pass longitudinally over the surface of the filling upon the filling carrier and means for rotating said member to cause the finder to pick up the free end of the filling.

28. In combination with an automatic filling replenishing loom having a hopper adapted to receive a series of filling carriers and to place the same successively in transferring position, means automatically operable to find the end of the filling upon the filling carrier awaiting transfer comprising a member having a plurality of end finders, means for reciprocating said member to cause said finders to pass longitudinally over the surface of the yarn upon the filling carrier, and means for rotating said member to cause a finder to pick up the free end of the filling.

29. In combination with an automatic filling replenishing loom having a hopper adapted to receive a series of filling carriers and to place the same successively in transferring position, means automatically operable to find the end of the filling upon a filling carrier a "aiting transfer comprising a rotatable drum having a radially disposed end finder, means for reciprocating said drum longitudinally over said filling carrier, means for rotating said drum during its longitudinal reciprocation in one direction over said filling carrier, means for causing the drum to rotate in the opposite direction at the end of said movement to cause the end finder to pick up the free end 100 of said filling whereby upon reciprocation of the drum in the opposite direction the filling end will be unwound from the filling carrier.

30. In combination with an automatic fill- 105 ing replenishing loom having a rotary hopper provided with means to hold in circular series a plurality of filling carriers and to place the same successively in transferring position, an end finder and means for pass- 110 ing the same longitudinally over the filling carrier, means for causing said finder to pick up the free end of the filling and unwind the same from the filling carrier, means for releasing said filling end from 115 said finder and means for anchoring the released filling end whereby the same will be held during and after transfer of the filling carrier.

31. In a machine for finding and pulling 120 off the free end of a mass of yarn wound upon a yarn carrier, means for gripping the base of the yarn carrier and holding the same against rotation, a member having an end finding instrumentality, means for re- 125 eiprocating said member longitudinally across the surface of the yarn mass, means for rotating said member relatively to said ya rn carrier to cause said finding member to pick up the free end of the yarn.

32. In a machine for finding and pulling off the free end of a mass of yarn wound upon a yarn carrier, a hopper having means for gripping the bases of the yarn carriers and holding the same against rotation, a

'-member having an end finding and gripping instrumentality, means for reciprocating said member longitudinally across the surface of the yarn mass, means for rotating said memberrelatively to said yarn carrier to cause said finding member to pick up the free end of the yarn.

83. In a machine for finding and pulling off the free end of a mass of yarn-wound upon a yarn carrier, a rotary hopper provided with a circular series of gripping means for'holding the base of the yarn carriers against rotation, a member having an end finding and gripping instrumentality, means -for reciprocating said member longitudinally across the surface of the yarn mass, means for rotating said member relati-vely to said yarn carrier to cause the end finding member to pick up the free end of the yarn.

34. In combination with an automatic filling replenishing loom having a hopper adapted to hold a plurality of filling carriers, means to place the same successively in transferring position, means for finding and holding the free end of the filling upon a filling carrier in advance of transfer comprising a hollow member having a radially movable finger, means for reciprocating said hollow member longitudinally over the filling carrier, means for forcing the finger against the surface of the filling during said longitudinal movement and means for causing relative rotative movement between'said finger and said carrier to cause the finger to pick up the free end of the filling, and means for retracting the finger to cause the same to grip said free end whereby upon removal of the hollow member from the filling carrier the free end will be unwound and held.

7 35. In combination with an automatic filling replenishing loom having a hopper adapted to hold a plurality of filling carriers, means to place the same successively in transferring position, means for finding and holding the free end of the filling upon a filling carrier in advance of transfer comprising a hollow member having a series of radially movable fingers, means for reciprocating said hollow member longitudinally over the filling carrier, means for forcing the fingers against the surface of the filling during said longitudinal movement and means for causing a relative rotative movement'between said fingers and said carrier to cause one of said fingers to pick up the free end of the filling and means for retracting the fingers to cause the same to grip said free end whereby upon removal of the hollow member from the filling carrier the free end will be unwound and held.

36. In combination with an automatic filling replenishing loom having a hopper adapted to hold a plurality of filling carriers, means to place the same successively in transferring position, means for finding and holding the free end of the filling upon a filling carrier in advance of transfer comprising a hollow member having a series of radially movable fingers, means'for reciprocating said hollow member longitudinally over the filling carrier, means for forcing the fingers against the surface of the filling during said longitudinal movement and means for causing relative rotative movement between 'sa1d fingers and said carrier to cause one of said fingers to pick up the free end of the filling, and means including acam for retracting the fingers to cause the same to grip said free end whereby upon removal of the hollow member from the filling carrier the free end will be unwound and held.

37. In combination with an automatic filling replenishing loom having a hopper adapted to hold a plurality of filling-carriers, means to place the same successively in transferring position, means for finding and holding the free end of the filling upon a filling carried in advance of transfer comprising a hollow member having a series of radially movable fingers, means for reciprocating said hollow member longitudinally over the filling carrier, means for forcing the fingers against the surface of the filling during said longitudinal movement and means for causing relative 'rotative movement between said fingers and said carrier to cause one of said fingers to pick up the free end of the filling, and means includ ing a cam for retracting the fingers to cause the same to grip said free end whereby upon removal of the hollow member from the filling carrier the free end will be unwound and held, and means operable upon removal of said hollow member from engagement with the filling carrier to cause said cam to release said finger from engagement with the filling end. v i

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification.

DANA oseoon. ALONZO E. RHOADES.

9 03 hi p ent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner et Eatemg,

Washington, D, s, a 

